With effect from 1^st October 2004 Tendring District Council, on behalf of Essex County Council (ECC), undertook Decriminalised Parking Enforcement throughout the District and assumed responsibility for enforcement of all on-street waiting and loading restrictions, other than major roads such as motorways and trunk roads. The Council retained responsibility for management of its off-street car parks and enforcement of conditions relating thereto are carried out under the powers.

An Operational Enforcement Plan has been prepared detailing enforcement patrol beats and Civil Enforcement Officer shift systems designed to provide enforcement throughout the District, on a day to day basis, to a level in accordance with recommendations made in the financial model prepared for ECC by RTA Associates. The Plan incorporates the flexibility to provide variations necessary to cover emergencies and fluctuations in local conditions. Should resources be limited at any time officers will ensure that Civil Enforcement Officers are deployed appropriately to patrol areas of greatest parking abuse and of greatest concern in terms of safety and congestion. This will ensure appropriate enforcement levels whilst retaining public confidence in the service.

The Council confirms its intention to carry out enforcement patrols in the evening and on Sundays, on a more ad hoc basis, in accordance with the model, responding where appropriate to local conditions and expectations. Within the above parameters, priority will be given particularly to the resolution of specific problems relating to Essex Local Transport Plan, such as parking which interferes with bus stops or school entrances, causing safety problems or traffic congestion.

Tendring District Council will seek to apply a fair but firm approach to parking enforcement, in keeping with its Transportation and Customer Care policies. The District will integrate these policies into the management of traffic through waiting and loading restrictions and the management of its off-street parking places.

The enforcement of parking controls are seen as a major contribution to the realisation of the Council's Transportation policies, which in turn will help to achieve objectives relating to the environment, prosperity, culture and community safety within the District.